London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Monday, Aug 25, 2025

Some suppliers point finger at UK grocers over salad shortages

Some suppliers point finger at UK grocers over salad shortages

British supermarkets are not only short of produce because of weather-related supply issues - they are also choosing not to pay higher prices for fruit and vegetables, some suppliers and independent grocers told Reuters.
Britain's biggest supermarket group Tesco (TSCO.L) on Wednesday followed rivals Asda and Morrisons by imposing customer purchase limits on salad produce, saying crops were hit by disrupted harvests in southern Europe and north Africa.

Supermarket groups say they are paying more to producers but, equally, know consumers only have so much to spend on their shopping. That means they are sometimes choosing not to pay more for stock, risking empty shelves. In July, for instance, Kraft Heinz (KHC.O) products went missing from Tesco stores over a pricing dispute.

Some suppliers say retailers just need to stump up more money.

"There is no shortage," said Volkert Engelsman, CEO of Eosta BV, a Netherlands-based supplier of organic produce to supermarkets in Britain and continental Europe. "If retailers would pay the right price there would be plenty of food."

In winter, Britain's grocers source products like tomatoes and lettuces from countries such as Spain and Morocco, where they can be grown without the cost of heating greenhouses, according to the British Retail Consortium.

"This allows supermarkets to offer their customers the best value for money at a time when the cost of living has risen sharply," it said.

Supermarkets also argue that one of the main drivers for putting item limits on products is to prevent wholesalers bulk buying their stock.

Asda and Sainsbury's (SBRY.L) declined to comment. Tesco and Morrisons did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

PLENTY TO GO AROUND

Retailers' margins have been battered over the past year as energy prices and input costs have risen, exacerbated by Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Food suppliers - from major players including Nestle (NESN.S) to smaller firms like Eosta - have raised prices amid tough negotiations with supermarkets.

British grocery inflation hit a record 16.7% in the four weeks to Jan. 22, dealing another blow to consumers battling an escalating cost-of-living crisis, industry data showed.

"I've noticed the availability of basic perishable foods becoming less and less over the last few months," said Anthony Law, 56, a publisher in the south of England.

"On Saturday afternoon, there was hardly any fresh produce available," said Law, referring to his Tesco Superstore in Evesham, Worcestershire. "The staff all looked bemused and defeated as everyone asked when the next consignment was due."

Similarly, every time he goes into his local Tesco, Asda, Morrisons or Sainsbury's supermarkets and sees empty shelves, K Warden, 41, sends his partner pictures "to have a moan" over the phone.

"I seem to have a whole host of pictures from over the last 24 months on my phone, be it medication, fresh produce or even pet stuff," said Warden, who shops at stores in Ashford, Folkestone, Canterbury and Dover in Southeast Britain.

Wholesalers and independent grocers, however, say there is plenty to go around if retailers are prepared to pay the extra cost.

"All our shops are full," said Mark Tate, who helps run Birmingham-based wholesaler and grocery chain owner George Perry Ltd. Prices had increased due to higher energy costs and bad weather and his gross margins have shrunk to 3%-4% from about 10% this time last year, he added.

($1 = 0.8319 pounds)
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Vietnam Evacuates Hundreds of Thousands as Typhoon Kajiki Strikes; China’s Sanya Shuts Down
UK Government Delays Decision on China’s Proposed London Embassy Amid Concerns Over Redacted Plans
A 150-Year Tradition to Be Abolished? Uproar Over the Popular Central Park Attraction
A new faith called Robotheism claims artificial intelligence isn’t just smart but actually God itself
Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner Purchases Third Property Amid Housing Tax Reforms Debate
HSBC Switzerland Ends Relationships with Over 1,000 Clients from Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Qatar, and Egypt
Sharia Law Made Legally Binding in Austria Despite Warnings Over 'Incompatible' Values
Italian Facebook Group Sharing Intimate Images Without Consent Shut Down Amid Police Investigation
Dutch Foreign Minister Resigns Amid Deadlock Over Israel Sanctions
Trump and Allies Send Messages of Support to Ukraine on Independence Day Amid Ongoing Conflict
China Reels as Telegram Chat Group Shares Hidden-Camera Footage of Women and Children
Sam Nicoresti becomes first transgender comedian to win Edinburgh Comedy Award
Builders uncover historic human remains in Lancashire house renovation
Australia Wants to Tax Your Empty Bedrooms
MotoGP Cameraman Narrowly Avoids Pedro Acosta Crash at Hungarian Grand Prix
FBI Investigates John Bolton Over Classified Documents in High-Profile Raids
Report reveals OpenAI pitched national ChatGPT Plus subscription to UK ministers
Labour set to freeze income tax thresholds in long-term 'stealth' tax raid
Coca‑Cola explores sale of Costa coffee chain
Trial hears dog walker was chased and fatally stabbed by trio
Restaurateur resigns from government hospitality council over tax criticism
Spanish City funfair shut after serious ride injury
Suspected arson at Ilford restaurant leaves three in critical condition
Tottenham beat Manchester City to go top of Premier League
Bank holiday heatwave to hit 30°C before remnants of Hurricane Erin arrive
UK to deploy immigration advisers to West Africa to block fake visas
Nurse who raped woman continued working for a year despite police alert
Drought forces closures of England’s canal routes, canceling boat holidays
Sweet tooth scents: food-inspired perfumes surge as weight-loss drugs suppress appetites
Experts warn Britain dangerously reliant on imported food
Family of Notting Hill Carnival murder victim call event unmanageable
Bunkers, Billions and Apocalypse: The Secret Compounds of Zuckerberg and the Tech Giants
Ukraine Declares De Facto War on Hungary and Slovakia with Terror Drone Strikes on Their Gas Lifeline
Animated K-pop Musical ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ Becomes Netflix’s Most-Watched Original Animated Film
New York Appeals Court Voids Nearly $500 Million Civil Fraud Penalty Against Trump While Upholding Fraud Liability
Elon Musk tweeted, “Europe is dying”
Far-Right Activist Convicted of Incitement Changes Gender and Demands: "Send Me to a Women’s Prison" | The Storm in Germany
Hungary Criticizes Ukraine: "Violating Our Sovereignty"
Will this be the first country to return to negative interest rates?
Child-free hotels spark controversy
North Korea is where this 95-year-old wants to die. South Korea won’t let him go. Is this our ally or a human rights enemy?
Hong Kong Launches Regulatory Regime and Trials for HKD-Backed Stablecoins
China rehearses September 3 Victory Day parade as imagery points to ‘loyal wingman’ FH-97 family presence
Trump Called Viktor Orbán: "Why Are You Using the Veto"
Horror in the Skies: Plane Engine Exploded, Passengers Sent Farewell Messages
MSNBC Rebrands as MS NOW Amid Comcast’s Cable Spin-Off
AI in Policing: Draft One Helps Speed Up Reports but Raises Legal and Ethical Concerns
Shame in Norway: Crown Princess’s Son Accused of Four Rapes
Apple Begins Simultaneous iPhone 17 Production in India and China
A Robot to Give Birth: The Chinese Announcement That Shakes the World
×